JP2011045657A - Short lower limb brace - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a short lower limb brace which does not have a lug interfering with a shoe, is lightweight, and has a good fitting feeling, also by which the ankle joint can be freely rotated to move the ankle, of which the structure is simple, and of which the manufacture is easy. <P>SOLUTION: This short lower limb brace has a structure not for supporting the leg from the lower side, but for hanging the leg by arranging an attaching body on the shin and instep side of the foot. The attaching body is divided into two, a shin attaching body and an instep attaching body, so that the ankle joint can be rotated. The two attaching bodies are not connected with a rotary bearing which is arranged on the extension of the rotating axis of the ankle joint, but with a newly devised movable connecting mechanism arranged between the shin attaching body and the instep attaching body, i.e., in front of the ankle joint, so that the shin attaching body and the instep attaching body are movable. Also, a force generating mechanism for hanging the leg is arranged in the same manner, and the instep attaching body is hung at a position which is determined to the shin attaching body. The movable connecting mechanism and the force generating mechanism are formed into simple structures using an elastic member. Thus, the short lower limb brace makes walking smoother. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a short leg orthosis, which is used by a patient who cannot freely move an ankle joint with his / her own intention as an assisting device during walking.

In the description of the present invention, the following terms are used as follows unless otherwise specified. The term “tip” refers to being close to the toe in the longitudinal direction of the lower leg. The opposite of “first” is “after”. The term “table” refers to the front and back in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the short leg. The reverse of “front” is “back”.

Therefore, the term “shin” refers to the “front” side of the short leg in the range below the knee and above the ankle. The back of the shin is a “calf”.

In addition, the term “foot” refers to the tip of the heel rather than the entire lower limb.

References to “A” mean the “front” side of the “foot” (not the “up” side).

Patients with cerebral overflow, cerebral infarction, and the like may suffer from hemiplegia that the ankle joint cannot be moved freely on their own will. Patients with this disability cannot lift their toes during walking, and because their toes fall, they cannot walk well because the toes get caught on the ground or the floor. Lifting short leg braces are commonly used.

Before describing the action mechanism during walking in the conventional example, first, the movement of the foot during walking of a healthy person will be described. For example, when focusing on the right foot, the heel is first grounded (heel)
contact), then the entire sole of the foot is grounded (foot flat), the left foot is pushed forward while supporting the body only with the right foot, then the right foot is lifted off the floor (heel off), and then the toe is also released. (Toe
off) The right foot is lifted off the floor (right swing phase). Then, the bag is grounded again (heel contact), and this series of operations is repeated.

However, in the case of a paralyzed patient who cannot move the ankle joint freely, the anterior tibialis muscle does not work well, when the leg is raised, the tip of the foot falls and the tip of the foot touches the ground before moving forward. , Walking with the feet not fully out. In addition, in a state where the legs are dragged, even a slight unevenness on the ground can cause a trip, making walking difficult.

A conventional short leg brace is mainly a fixed brace of the type in which the ankle is fixed in a state bent to approximately 90 °. (Conventional example {circle over (1)}: see FIG. 5 in Patent Document 1) This uses an integrated accessory in which a foot resting body on which the sole is placed and a calf appendage applied to the calf are continuous, and the back side of the short leg is Cover widely and lift the toes from below. Since the ankle is fixed like a cast, it cannot move freely as described above, and only the heel or toes can touch the ground when walking. Therefore, the patient is forced to move unnaturally due to the brace.
However, it is still used a lot because of its simple structure.

In the description of the present invention, this type of short leg brace is referred to as a fixed type.

In recent years, ankle braces have been proposed that allow ankle plantar flexion (bend in the direction that the toes hang down) and dorsiflexion (bend in the direction in which the toes lift) during walking. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2)

An example of the short leg brace is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-103443. (Conventional example {circle over (2)}: refer to Patent Document 1) As shown in FIG. 1 [front view showing one example of conventional example {circle around (2)}] of the public relations, the orthosis includes a foot placing body on which a foot is placed; A calf appendage applied to the calf is separated and a bearing that connects both of them is placed on the buttocks to allow the ankle to bend and back. In addition, a compression spring is provided in the longitudinal direction on the back of the calf appendage, and is supported so that the toes do not fall by this elastic restoring force.

Another example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-166811. [Conventional example {circle over (3)}: refer to Patent Document 2] As shown in FIG. 1 of the same public relations, the brace is separated into a foot rest for placing the sole and a calf appendage applied to the calf as shown in FIG. It enables bottom bending and dorsiflexion. For this purpose, a connecting member is provided that is connected via a connecting shaft on the outer side of the foot so as to be swingable in the bottom flexion and dorsiflexion directions. The connecting shaft is provided at a position corresponding to the outer heel of the foot, and is formed in a hollow shape into which the outer heel can enter.
In addition, when the foot resting body moves from the specific reference position to the plantar flexion direction with respect to the calf attachment body, a drag is applied to the foot resting body, and the foot resting body is returned to the reference position. A force applying means for applying force is provided. The force applying means acts by a fluid resistance force by the hydraulic shock absorber and an elastic force by the coil spring.

In the description of the present invention, such an ankle foot orthosis that allows such ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion is referred to as a movable type.

JP-A-9-103443 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-166811

The first problem relates to a fixed short leg brace.
The conventional foot mount on which the sole is placed and the appendage of the calf appendage applied to the calf are integrated so that the calf, the heel and the sole are covered widely, so it is made to fit the short leg. It was necessary to take a foot type for each person, which was costly and time consuming to produce. In addition, since it takes a lot of weight, it has to be manufactured with a strong structure and materials. In addition, he had to wear it on his socks, so it was obvious that he was wearing it from the outside, and his appearance was bad. Also, when wearing the brace, there is an overhang from the outer shape of the foot, especially in the vicinity of the heel, and the sole is flat and does not fit the three-dimensional sole of ordinary shoes, so it is difficult to take off because it fixes the ankle Ordinary shoes were difficult to wear, and people had to wear shoes designed exclusively for the disabled. Also, especially on slopes, only the heels or toes were able to touch the ground, and the orthosis deformed when applying weight, so the legs hit and hurt.

The second problem is about a movable short leg brace.
As shown in the conventional examples 2 and 3, in both cases, in the fixed type of short leg brace, it is possible to change the angle of each other by separating the integrated accessory into a foot rest and a calf accessory. The rotary connecting mechanism and the force applying means for lifting the foot are devised. However, these consisted of a footrest, a calf accessory, and a member connecting the two, which were complicated, large, heavy, and obstructive.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-166811 of Conventional Example 3, the connecting shaft that connects the two appendages is provided at a position corresponding to the outer heel of the foot, and the rotary connecting mechanism is located outside the heel. Although it is formed in a hollow shape so that the folds can enter, there is still a structure in which the ridges are greatly overhanging around the ridges and around the ridges.

In addition, the force application means installed so that the toes do not fall down are devised in each installation position, but there is an overhang from the outer shape of the foot, which became an obstacle when wearing shoes or walking .

In addition, the structure of the rotary connecting mechanism and the force applying means is complicated, so the cost is high and the weight is heavy.
Therefore, if you can only move the ankles and you have to put up with the inconvenience and cost of them, there are many users who can use fixed short leg braces, and eventually there are many fixed short leg braces. It is currently used.

The solution means common to the 1st subject regarding these short leg braces and the 2nd subject was devised. That is, a conventional structure for lifting an ankle foot from below is a structure for lifting a foot from above.
For this purpose, the position of the accessory that conventionally covered the calf, the heel and the sole from the back side was changed to the position applied to the shin and the back of the foot from the front side.

That is, in the short leg orthosis according to claim 1,
With attachments fixed along the shin and instep,
By fixing the angle of the heel joint with the accessory,
It is characterized by smooth walking.

Next, before explaining the means for solving the second problem related to the short leg brace, in the explanation of the present invention, when the short leg brace is worn and the ankle joint is rotated to move up and down the foot, The angle of the heel joint where is horizontal is called the reference angle.
The reference angle is the angle at which the sole of the foot is horizontal, but the angle that allows the smoothest walking depends on how the patient walks, and accordingly, for example, when the foot is raised, the reference angle is +5 degrees. It is desirable to adjust.

In order to solve the second problem related to the short leg orthosis, a new solution means was devised in addition to the structure of lifting from above, which is a means for solving the first problem. First, the accessory that was an integral part of the fixed mold was divided into two parts, a tibial accessory and an instep accessory, and fixed along the shin and the instep.
Secondly, even if the positions of both appendages are changed to the shin and instep side, for example, as in the conventional examples 2 and 3, the ankle is largely covered with an ankle and protruded around the heel, etc. Although it is possible to adopt a structure in which a coupling mechanism such as a rotary bearing is placed on the extension line of the rotation center of the present invention, such a structure is not adopted in the present invention. It is that a movable connecting mechanism, which is a new device for connecting in a movable manner by changing the angle, is arranged between the tibial accessory and the upper accessory. In addition, the force generation mechanism that generates the force to lift the upper appendage so as to be in a fixed position with respect to the tibial appendage against the force of hanging down the foot is a simple and small structure, together with the movable connection mechanism, and concentrated And arranged on the front side.

More specifically, when the ankle is bent and stretched during walking, the ankle joint rotates, following the rotational movement, the foot and the foot fixed to the upper arm rotate, and the tibial appendage and the upper arm The mutual position changes. Naturally, both appendages and the movable connecting mechanism and force generating mechanism installed between them must follow this. However, both the appendages, the movable connecting mechanism and the force generating mechanism installed between them are located away from the rotational center of the heel joint as described above, and the variation in the position of each other depends on the patient's physique. However, the change in angle is about 30 degrees at most, and the change in distance is about 2 cm at most. Therefore, it was noted that it is not necessary to use a large rotating bearing that rotates 360 degrees in order to connect the shin accessory and the upper accessory movably. The movable connecting mechanism follows only a relatively small change in position within the range in which the hip joint rotates.
This made it possible to use a simple structure and to connect the shin accessory and the upper accessory movably. The name is also called a movable connection mechanism, not a rotation connection mechanism.

Also, in the force generation mechanism, instead of applying a force in one direction within the range of rotation of the heel joint, the origin of operation of the force generation mechanism is the reference angle of the heel joint, that is, the angle at which the sole of the foot is horizontal. And a structure in which opposite forces are generated according to the difference in angle from the origin and when the angle of the hip joint is in the base bending direction and the dorsiflexion direction with respect to the reference angle. With this force, the upper accessory was lifted to a position determined with respect to the shin accessory, and the angle of the hip joint was always returned to the reference angle so that the sole of the foot was held horizontally.

That is, in the short leg orthosis according to claim 2,
A shin accessory attached to the shin,
With an armor that is fixed to the instep,
The shin accessory and the upper accessory are connected so as to be movable,
Lift the upper accessory to a position determined relative to the tibial accessory,
It is characterized by smooth walking.

Next, regarding the movable connecting mechanism and the force generating mechanism for connecting the shin accessory and the upper accessory, it is devised that the elastic member is deformed and the elastic force generated by the deformation is used and the two mechanisms are integrated. It is that.

That is, in the short leg orthosis according to claim 3,
A shin accessory attached to the shin,
An armor body fixed to the instep,
An elastic member for connecting the shin accessory and the upper accessory,
The elastic member follows the change in position between the shin accessory and the upper accessory by elastic deformation,
The elastic member lifts the armor with a restoring force generated when elastically deformed,
It is characterized by smooth walking.

Next, the elastic member, which is a movable connecting mechanism that connects the shin accessory and the upper accessory, absorbs only the change in the angle between the two accessories due to elastic deformation, and the change in the distance is caused by It is devised to absorb as a sliding structure between at least one of the body and the elastic member.

That is, in the short leg orthosis according to claim 4,
A shin accessory attached to the shin,
An armor fixed to the instep,
An elastic member for connecting the shin accessory and the upper accessory,
The elastic member follows the change in angle between the tibial appendage and the upper appendage by elastically deforming when the hip joint rotates during walking,
At least one of the shin accessory or the upper accessory is provided with a sliding guide for sliding an end of the elastic member,
When the hip joint rotates during walking, the end of the elastic member slides along the sliding guide to change the distance between the tibial accessory and the upper accessory. Follow
The elastic member lifts the upper appendage with a restoring force generated when elastically deformed, and holds the hip joint at a reference angle when the foot is raised,
It is characterized by smooth walking.

Next, in order to protect the lifted toes and toes, a foot placement plate is disposed in an intermediate portion of the belt that fixes the upper to the foot.

In the short leg orthosis according to claim 5, in the short leg orthosis according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4,
A foot placement plate is provided at an intermediate portion of a belt that fixes the upper accessory to the foot.

According to the present invention, it is lightweight, it is not necessary to take a pair of legs at the time of production, it is low cost, it can be worn under socks, and it is not noticeable that it is worn from other people's A fixed short leg brace that can be worn with shoes was realized. Furthermore, a free rotation of the heel, a simple structure, and a lightweight movable short leg brace were realized.

In other words, the conventional short leg brace has a structure in which the accessory is placed on the shin and the sole of the foot, and the foot is lifted from below, and has a structure and strength that can withstand the weight. However, in the present invention, by fixing the accessory along the shin and the instep of the foot, and improving the structure to lift the foot, various problems can be achieved.

Still further, for the movable short leg brace, a mechanism for rotating the joint of the heel is arranged on the extension of the rotation axis of the heel in the conventional short leg brace. It is assumed that it is placed at a position deviated from the center of the arm and absorbs only a relatively small change in angle and distance in the range in which the hip joint rotates. With this device, the object can be achieved with a very small and simple mechanism.

As a result, the components of each mechanism and the entire short leg brace are simple, small and light.

The effects of the invention will be further described below in accordance with the claims.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ankle is fixed with an accessory attached to the shin and the instep of the foot. In the conventional example, the accessory covered the calf, the heel and the sole, which are the back side of the short leg, and was large and bulky, but the area was small enough to be applied to a part of the shin and instep. Although it was made of a thick material, this improvement made it possible to withstand only the bending moment due to the weight of the small foot, so the material was much thinner than the body weight. Along with this, the weight of the brace became lighter.

Moreover, since the accessory is only fixed to the shin and part of the instep of the foot, it is not necessary to strictly take the patient's foot shape, and the manufacturing labor is greatly reduced.

In addition, since the surface of the skin is only covered with a thin appendage, it can be worn under the socks, making it less noticeable.

Also, since there is no accessory near the heel or heel, there is nothing that protrudes greatly from the outer shape of the foot, so it does not interfere with the shoe, and since there is no foot rest, it does not interfere with the shape of the shoe sole. You can wear ordinary shoes. Since there is no weight on the footrest, there is no problem of deforming the brace.

These effects described here are also common to the short leg orthosis described in the following claims.

Next, according to the short leg orthosis according to claim 2, the rotation connecting mechanism of the orthosis was placed on the extended line of the central axis when the ankle joint, which was common sense in the conventional example, was devised. Instead of the movable connection mechanism, the arm is moved to the front side of the heel joint (the side with the shin and the instep) and arranged at a position off the center of rotation of the heel.
In other words, since the rotation angle of the heel joint during walking is only about 30 degrees and it is not necessary to rotate a large angle, place large rotation bearings on the rotation center extension line of the heel joint as in the conventional example. The movable connecting mechanism that connects the tibial appendage and the upper appendage follows only changes in the angle and distance within which the hip joint rotates.
While the tibial appendage and the upper appendage are connected, the position (angle and distance) of each other changes, and it can move as if it has a virtual center of rotation.
As a result, there is no rotating connecting mechanism on the outside of the heel in the conventional example, and the main structure of the orthosis is the front side of the short leg (there is a shin and instep), together with the structure that attaches the appendage to the shin and instep. I was able to concentrate on the side.

The movable connection mechanism that follows the change in position by connecting the shin accessory and the upper accessory, and the force generating mechanism that generates the force to lift the upper accessory and the foot, can be applied to a small load of bending moment due to the weight of the foot and shoes. It would be better if I could respond. As a result, a heavy and bulky spring is not required, the structure is simple, extremely small and light, can be placed between the shin accessory and the upper accessory, and does not protrude greatly from the outer shape of the foot. lost.
In this way, the obstacles that were in the way when wearing shoes or walking were gone.

Since the shin accessory and the upper accessory are connected so as to be movable, the hip joint can be rotated within a certain range.
The lower appendage can be provided by lifting the upper appendage to a position determined with respect to the shin accessory and maintaining the angle of the hip joint at the reference angle so that the toes do not fall down. .

In addition, the structure is simple and there is no large member, so the weight is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Next, in the short leg orthosis according to the third aspect, the movable connecting mechanism and the force generating mechanism for connecting the tibial appendage and the upper appendage are arranged together between the tibial appendage and the upper appendage. It was devised to realize with two elastic members.

The position where the tibial appendage and the upper appendage are connected is not on the extension line of the rotation center of the ankle joint as in the case of a conventional short leg brace, but is removed from the rotation center and the front side of the ankle joint ( It has moved to the side with the shin and instep. Therefore, when the heel joint rotates, the elastic member changes the position (angle and distance) of each other while the tibial appendage and the upper appendage are connected, and it moves as if there is a virtual center of rotation. . At this time, due to the elastic deformation of the elastic member, it is possible to follow the change in the angle between the shin accessory and the upper accessory when the hip joint rotates. At the same time, due to the elastic deformation of the elastic member, it is possible to follow the change in the distance between the shin accessory and the upper accessory when the hip joint rotates. As a result, the shin accessory and the upper accessory were connected so as to be movable.

At the same time, this elastic member also serves as a force generating mechanism located between the tibial accessory and the upper accessory. This was achieved by using the return force when the elastic member was deformed.
The elastic member is arranged so that the upper accessory is lifted to a predetermined position on the basis of the tibial accessory. When no force is applied to the elastic member including gravity, the shape of the elastic member is selected so that the tip of the foot faces upward. Gravity is applied when the patient is standing and raising the foot away from the floor, and gravity acts as a force that causes the toes to hang down.When the toes hang down, the elastic member bends and deforms, and the restoring force is applied to the feet. The force is in the direction of lifting the tip. And since the restoring force with respect to a deformation | transformation of an elastic member is proportional to the amount of sagging of a toe, two forces balance at a certain point.
The design of the return force of the elastic member can adjust the magnitude of the return force against the elastic deformation of the elastic member, so this balance point is the point where the angle of the heel joint becomes the reference angle, that is, the sole of the foot is horizontal. Can be.

It became clear that the elastic member became the force generation mechanism, and the foot tip was not lifted by lifting the foot.

The structure is simple, small enough to be placed in the space between the tibial appendage and the upper appendage, and the movable connection mechanism and the force generation mechanism are made of an elastic member that is light in weight. Since the toes are lifted, it is possible to realize smooth walking without dragging the toes during walking.

Next, in the short leg orthosis according to claim 4, the movable connecting mechanism that is disposed between the tibial appendage and the upper appendage and connects the tibial appendage and the upper appendage is realized by an elastic member. Due to the elastic deformation of the member, it is possible to follow the change in the angle between the shin accessory and the upper accessory when the hip joint rotates. This point is the same as that shown in claim 3.
However, as another idea here, a structure is adopted in which one end of the elastic member slides between at least one of the shin accessory and the upper accessory. Thereby, it is possible to follow the change in the distance between the shin accessory and the upper accessory when the hip joint rotates. When the distance is changed by the sliding structure, unnecessary elastic deformation stress is not generated, and smooth rotation of the ankle joint is facilitated. In addition, since the elastic deformation of the elastic member is only a bending deformation, the design of the elastic member and the selection of the material are facilitated.

At the same time, the force generation mechanism located between the shin accessory and the upper accessory is also the same in that this elastic member also serves.
Of course, there is no change in the point that smooth walking can be realized.

Next, a short leg brace according to claim 5 is the short leg brace according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 or claim 4 at the central portion of the belt that fixes the upper appendage to the toe. A foot placement plate on which a foot is placed is installed. If the footrest plate matches the shape from the toes to the center of the sole, the entire toe can be lifted, and even for patients with the toes lowered, the toes can be lifted directly. In addition, smoother walking can be realized. Further, the belt 6 does not tie the toes and tighten. Moreover, such a footrest board can also play the role which protects so that a fingertip of a patient's toes | sensation which does not have a sensation may not be hit anywhere.

It is a sketch at the time of wearing a fixed type short leg brace. (A) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a sketch in the case of wearing a movable short leg brace. (A) is a front view, (b) is a side view. It is a sketch explaining the change of the angle and the distance between the shin accessory and the upper accessory when the ankle is bent and bent. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a movable connection mechanism. (A) is a string spring, (b) is a combination of a chain and a sliding guide that can be bent in one direction freely. FIG. 6 is a perspective view when the shin accessory and the upper accessory are connected by a leaf spring that serves both as a movable connection mechanism and a force generation mechanism. It is a top view of the example of an elastic member. (A) is a figure when the expansion-contraction force is not applied, (b) is a figure when the tensile force is applied and it is extended and deformed. It is a perspective view of the bellows-like spring which is an example of an elastic member. (A) shows a diagram when no bending force is applied, and (b) shows a diagram when the bending force is applied and the bending deformation occurs. It is a perspective view when the shin accessory and the upper accessory are connected by a bellows-like spring which is an elastic member. It is sectional drawing which shows the A-A 'cross section of the elastic member of FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which one end of the elastic member is sliding along a sliding guide provided with the upper accessory. It is the top view which developed belt A5 or belt B6 on the same plane as a foot sole. (A) shows a case where there is no foot placement plate, and (b) shows a case where a foot placement plate is arranged. It is a perspective view in the state where belt A5 or belt B6 on which a foot placement plate is arranged is attached to the foot.

Examples of the short leg brace according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a sketch showing a state in which a fixed short leg brace according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a foot, (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fixed short leg brace according to the present invention has a calf, a heel (heel) and a heel for lifting a foot tip from the lower side used in a fixed brace as in Conventional Example 1. ), Instead of the accessory covering the foot, it is constituted by the accessory 1 fixed along the shin and the instep of the foot.

When the accessory 1 is manufactured, the ankle is bent at a substantially right angle, and the accessory 1 is molded so as to continuously follow the shin and the instep of the foot in a state in which the line of the foot back and the shin are approximately at a right angle. .
The accessory 1 can be manufactured by molding plastics. Alternatively, the metal plate may be shaped and the side that contacts the skin may be lined with rubber or the like.
The belts C10a and 10b and the belt A5 can be made of a flexible cloth, leather, thin plastic, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the accessory 1 is fixed to the shin and the calf by winding the belt C <b> 10 a and the belt C <b> 10 b around the calf and stopping the ends thereof connected to the adjunct 1. The belt C10a is wound around the thinned part at the top of the calf and the belt C10b is wound around the thinnest part of the ankle so that the weight of the toe, the weight of the shoes, and the weight of the brace itself may be lowered. The entire brace can be supported without shifting.
This is the same in the following embodiments.

Similarly, the belt A5 is wound around the foot and the end thereof is connected to the accessory 1 and fixed to the foot. With this, the angle of the ankle is almost a right angle, and the ankle is fixed in a state where the line between the sole and the shin is almost a right angle. It can be lifted so that the toes do not hang down, and does not become an obstacle when walking.

For connection between the belt A5 and the belts C10a and 10b and the accessory 1, a snap button or a magic tape can be used. The same applies to the belts B and D described in the following embodiments. (Magic tape is a registered trademark.)

When the patient wears the brace, first, one end of the belts A and C is connected to a predetermined portion of the accessory 1, and then the accessory 1 is placed on the shin and the instep of the belt A, The other end of C is turned to the calf and instep and connected to a predetermined location on the opposite side of the accessory 1. This is the same as the conventional method of wearing an orthosis, and even a patient with a single handed disability can do it himself. The same applies to the mounting in the following embodiments.

For example, when the patient's symptoms are mild, the appendage 1 may be shorter than the center of the shin, as shown in FIG. 1, and in that case, the belt C10b can be left and the belt C10a can be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which a movable short leg brace according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a foot, (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view.

In the movable short leg brace of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of the fixed short leg brace, the accessory 1 which is an integral type is composed of a tibial appendage 2 fixed to the shin and a foot It is divided into an upper body 3 fixed to the upper.
Then, it will be described that the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected so as to be movable by the movable connecting mechanism 8 so that the joint of the toes can be rotated within a certain range. Further, a force generating mechanism 9 for lifting the toes is provided at a position where the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected, and the upper accessory 3 is lifted to a position determined with respect to the tibial accessory 2, Explain that you can walk smoothly without sagging your toes.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tibial accessory 2 is fixed by winding belts D <b> 11 a and 11 b around the calf. The armor 3 is fixed by winding the belt B6 around the leg. The attachment of the attachment and the belt is as described above.

The shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 can be manufactured by molding plastics in the same manner as the first accessory 1 of a fixed short leg brace. Alternatively, the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 may be formed by shaping a metal plate and lining the side that contacts the skin with rubber or the like.
Similarly, the belts D11a and 11b and the belt B6 can be made of a flexible cloth, leather, thin plastic, or the like.

FIG. 3 is a sketch for explaining the change in the angle and distance between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 when the ankle is bent back and bent. FIG. 3 shows the situation when the joint of the heel is rotated and the ankle is bent to raise the toe (back bending action), and when the toe hangs down (bottom bending action). The belt for fixing the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 is omitted.
First, it will be described with reference to FIG. 3 that the joint of the heel can be rotated using the movable connecting mechanism 8 in the movable short leg brace of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, it is said that the heel joint 2 rotates and the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 move while changing their positional relationship with each other.

In FIG. 3, two figures are overlapped, and (a) is a state of dorsiflexion (bending in the direction in which the toes are lifted), with the soles tilted from the horizontal and the toes are raised. Yes, (b) shows a state in which the toes hang down during a plantar flexion operation (an operation to bend in the direction in which the toes hang down).
Here, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the angle H formed by the shin accessory 2 and the upper appendage 3 during the dorsiflexion operation is increased by an amount corresponding to the rotation of the ankle joint during the dorsiflexion operation, and becomes an angle H ′. At the same time, the position of the tip of the tibial appendage 2 during the dorsiflexion operation is P, and the position of the rear end of the upper appendage 3 is Q. The position of the tip of the tibial appendage 2 at the time of the bottom bending motion does not move and is P, and the position of the rear end after the upper appendage 3 moves is Q ′. When shifting from the state of the dorsiflexion operation to the state of the dorsiflexion operation, the distance PQ between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 becomes longer and becomes PQ ′.

At the time of walking, the difference between the angle H and the angle H ′ formed by the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 is approximately 30 degrees at most. The difference between the distances PQ and PQ 'between the two appendages is at most about 2 cm. The movable connecting mechanism 8 only needs to move within the range of this angle and distance, and does not have to be a rotary bearing that rotates around 360 degrees around the hip joint.

Therefore, it has been found that the movable connecting mechanism 8 only needs to have a structure such that the upper 3 can follow a certain angle and distance.
This can be realized by, for example, a string-wound spring, a bellows-shaped spring, a combination of a chain and a sliding guide that can be freely bent in one direction, a combination of a leaf spring and a sliding guide, and a combination of a rod-shaped spring and a sliding guide.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the movable connecting mechanism 8. FIG. 4A shows an example of a string spring. The string spring can be arranged to deform in the bending direction to follow the change in angle, and to deform in the longitudinal direction to follow the change in distance.
FIG. 4B shows an example of a combination of a chain and a sliding guide that can be freely bent in one direction. One end of the chain passes through a sliding guide formed in the accessory, and the chain can be bent so that it can follow a change in angle and slide so as to follow a change in distance.
It became clear that the joint of the heel can be rotated using the movable connecting mechanism 8.

Next, in the movable short leg brace of this embodiment, the foot can be lifted by holding the upper appendage 3 at a predetermined position with respect to the tibial appendage 2 using the force generation mechanism 9. Indicates.
In FIG. 3B, there is nothing between the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3, and no force is applied between the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3, and FIG. It is shown that the toes are in a state of sagging, as in the case of the buckling action (the action of bending the toes in the direction of sagging) shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the force generating mechanism 9 is arranged by connecting between the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3. When the force generation mechanism 9 is not applied to the toes from the outside including gravity, the force generating mechanism 9 is in a dorsiflexion operation (an operation in which the toes are lifted up) shown in FIG. Is arranged so that it is fixed slightly above the reference angle. Here, it is assumed that the force generation mechanism 9 is an elastic member. When a patient stands and lifts his / her foot while walking, the weight of the foot and the shoes will cause gravity to fall, and as a result, the elastic member as the force generation mechanism 9 will bend and deform by bending moment. As a result, a restoring force is generated. When the toe is lowered and the amount of lowering is increased, the restoring force is increased in proportion to the amount of deformation, so that the restoring force of the member having gravity and elasticity is balanced at a certain position. At this time, the restoring force of the elastic member that is the force generation mechanism 9 can be designed so that the angle of the heel joint is the reference angle, in other words, the bottom surface of the foot is horizontal.

The force generation mechanism 9 is realized by, for example, a string-wound spring that generates a restoring force when deformed, a bellows-shaped spring, a leaf spring, or a rubber pneumatic actuator that has a predetermined outer shape when filled with a strong pressure. it can.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view when the shin accessory and the upper accessory are connected by a leaf spring. A method for realizing the movable connecting mechanism 8 and the force generating mechanism 9 will be described using a leaf spring as an example. In this case, the movable connecting mechanism 8 and the force generating mechanism 9 are realized by one leaf spring. The upper end of the leaf spring is fixed to the tip of the tibial appendage 2, and the lower end passes through a sliding guide 12 formed on the end surface of the rear end of the upper appendage 3. The leaf spring has a bent shape when no external force is applied. When the heel joint rotates and the angle between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 changes, it follows and flexes and deforms elastically. .
The lower end of the leaf spring can follow the change in the distance between the shin accessory 2 and the upper body 3 by sliding the sliding guide 12 when the distance between the tibial body 2 and the upper body 3 changes. .

The shape of the leaf spring is designed so that when the force is not applied from the outside, the tip of the upper 3 is directed upward than when the angle of the heel joint is the reference angle. The upper body 3 is fixed to the foot by the belt B6, and when the gravity of the foot and the shoe is applied downward to the leaf spring through the upper body 3, the leaf spring is bent and elastically deformed to generate a restoring force. The angle of the heel joint is the reference angle, and the gravity and return force are balanced when the sole is horizontal.
Therefore, it was possible to hold the upper appendage at a position determined with respect to the tibial appendage using the restoring force of the leaf spring, and to lift the foot.

Thus, it has become clear that the leaf spring functions as the movable connecting mechanism 8 and simultaneously as the force generating mechanism 9.

In addition, pneumatic actuators that expand and contract or stretch by sending compressed air from a compressor have been put to practical use, but the shape can be maintained if compressed air is sealed in the pneumatic actuator. When the pneumatic actuator is bent, it generates a restoring force like a leaf spring. As in the case of the leaf spring, if the pneumatic actuator is disposed between the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 and fixed, it functions similarly.

String springs, leaf springs, and pneumatic actuators can be made small, have a simple structure, can be placed between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3, and do not overhang the outer shape of the foot .

For example, it has been clarified that a leg can be lifted by using a string spring, a leaf spring, or a pneumatic actuator as the force generation mechanism 9.
In this way, the elastic member is used as the force generating mechanism 9 to hold the upper appendage at a position where the bottom of the foot is horizontal, that is, a position determined with respect to the tibial appendage, and lift the foot. It became clear that it was possible.

It has been clarified that when the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 are connected so as to be movable by the movable connecting mechanism 8, the joints of the toes can be rotated within a certain range. A force generating mechanism 9 is provided at a position where the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected, and the upper accessory 3 is lifted to a position determined with respect to the tibial accessory 2 by the force generated by the force generating mechanism 9. It became clear that I could walk smoothly.
As a result, the ankle joint was rotated, the toes did not hang down, and a short leg brace capable of smooth walking was realized.

In FIG. 2, the movable connecting mechanism 8 and the force generating mechanism 9 of the second embodiment are replaced with the elastic member 4 in the third embodiment. It will be described that the elastic member 4 independently realizes the functions of the movable connecting mechanism 8 and the force generating mechanism 9 and provides a short leg brace capable of smooth walking.

First, in FIG. 2, the elastic member 4 connects the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 and the movable connecting mechanism 8 follows the distance difference PQ'-PQ and the angle difference H'-H as shown in FIG. Will be described at the same time.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an example of the elastic member 4. A method in which the elastic member 4 follows the difference in distance will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the elastic member 4 is a spring having a bellows-like shape shown in a plan view. (A) is when the elastic force is not applied to the spring, and (b) is the time when the tensile force F shown in FIG.

When the linear ends of the bellows-shaped spring are fixed to the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3, respectively, the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 are connected through a bellows-shaped spring. When the tip of the foot is lowered to increase the distance between the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 and a tensile force is applied, the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 remain connected to each other in FIG. ), The bellows-like part deforms and follows.
As described above, even if the tip of the foot moves up and down and the distance between the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 changes, the two can follow the difference and keep the connection.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bellows-like spring as an example of an elastic member. Next, an example of a method in which the elastic member 4 follows the change in the angle difference between the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
In this example, the elastic member 4 is a spring having the same bellows shape as shown in FIG. 6 in the plan view and having the same cross section in the thickness direction. FIG. 7A shows a state in which no bending stress is applied to the bellows-shaped spring, and both ends are not in a straight line and form an angle. FIG. 7B shows a state where the lower end of the bellows-like spring is subjected to bending stress of F in the direction of the arrow, and the whole is bent and deformed linearly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view when the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected by a bellows-like spring which is an elastic member. In FIG. 8, only the vicinity of the bellows-like spring is shown in which the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 are connected by the bellows-like spring shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 8, when the linear end of the bellows-like spring is fixed to the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3, the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected through the bellows-like spring. Is done. When the angle between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 changes, a bending force is applied to the bellows-like spring. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bellows-shaped portion is deformed, and the bending angle formed between the tibial appendage 2 and the braided appendage 3 changes. Following the change in the angle, the two can remain connected.

The shape of the two bellows-like springs for following the difference in angle and distance described in this example is similar. To follow the change in angle and to follow the change in distance, 1 Two things can be combined. If the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected using one bellows-like spring, the bellows-like spring becomes a joint having at least two degrees of freedom as described above.

By the bellows-like spring as illustrated here, the position (angle and distance) of each other is continuously changed while the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected, and the joint of the heel rotates, It moves as if it has a virtual center of rotation, and performs the same function as a rotary bearing in the range of small rotation angles.

It has now been clarified that a bellows-like spring as shown in FIG. 7 can be used as the elastic member 4 functioning as the movable connecting mechanism 8.

Next, it will be described again using FIG. 7 that the elastic member 4 also functions as a force generation mechanism 9 that pulls up the foot. In this example, the elastic member 4 is the bellows-like spring shown in FIG. 8 as in the example of the method for absorbing the change in the angle difference between the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3. When the bellows-like spring is bent and deformed to absorb the difference in angle, a bending stress is generated, so that it also functions as the force generation mechanism 9.

As shown in FIG. 8, the linear ends of the bellows-like spring shown in FIG. 7A are fixed to the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3, respectively. The bellows shape is such that when the shin accessory 2 is fixed to the shin and the upper accessory 3 is fixed to the foot, and the force is not applied to the foot from the outside including gravity, the tip of the foot is slightly upward from the reference angle. The shape of the spring (angle formed by the upper and lower ends) is set in advance. When a patient stands and lifts his / her foot while walking, the weight of the foot and the weight of the shoe is applied and the foot is lowered. As a result, when the toe is lowered, the bellows-like spring is bent and deformed to generate a restoring force, and the restoring force increases in proportion to the amount of deformation. When the toes are lowered and the amount of lowering is increased, gravity and the restoring force of the spring balance at a certain position. At this time, the magnitude of the restoring force with respect to the deformation of the spring can be designed so that the angle of the heel joint becomes the reference angle.
As shown in FIG. 8, the bellows-like spring installed between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 as shown in FIG. It became clear that it could be used.

The elastic member 4 is required to be accommodated between the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 and to be as thin as possible in the thickness direction, and to be processed into a bellows-like shape as shown in the example. Piano wire (spring wire), which has both strength and elasticity, can be used.

If the elastic member 4 is appropriately designed to match the strength and elastic force of the material, it can be made of the same material as the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 and can be integrally manufactured. For example, the structure shown in FIG. 7 can be made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

In fixing both ends of the elastic member 4 to the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendix 3, a hole is made in the end surface of the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3, and the end portions of the elastic member 4 are embedded and bonded, Adhering to the surface or an appropriate method can be taken.

Since the elastic member 4 fulfills a plurality of functions, the material and shape can be optimally designed for each function. For example, when expanding and contracting to follow a change in length, it is better that the stress is small. This may be achieved by increasing the number of bellows or reducing the dimension x shown in FIG. In order to adjust the bending strength in order to adjust the angle of the ankle to the reference angle when a force for pulling up the toe is generated, the dimension y shown in FIG. Should be designed to be optimal.

Thus, the elastic member 4 functions as a movable connecting mechanism and a force generating mechanism independently, and can be realized in a small size with a simple structure.

The other parts are the same as in Example 2. Thus, a short leg brace that can move the hip joint and can lift the foot and walk smoothly is realized.

In the present embodiment, the function of absorbing the difference in distance, which is one of the functions of the elastic member 4 described in the third embodiment, is realized by another method.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an AA ′ cross section of the elastic member 4 shown in the front view of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, a hole is formed in the end surface of the upper accessory 3 to form a sliding guide 12.
The elastic member 4 has the same shape as that described in the third embodiment, but the upper end 4b of the elastic member 4 is embedded and fixed in the tibial appendage 2, and the lower end 4a of the elastic member 4 is It can slide through the sliding guide 12.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which one end of the elastic member 4 is sliding along a sliding guide provided with an instep.
Since the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are provided with a sliding guide 12 therebetween, they can move freely in the longitudinal direction, but are fixed in the vertical direction of the sliding guide 12. When the distance between the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 changes, the tibial accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3 are connected by following the difference by the sliding structure while serving as a movable connecting mechanism. Can keep.

If there is no retaining in the sliding structure, the connection between the upper 3 and the elastic member 4 will be broken apart when the device attached to the patient's foot is removed. Is good.

When the distance between the tibial appendage 2 and the upper appendage 3 changes, it is convenient for smooth rotation of the ankle joint that there is no stress accompanying the expansion and contraction of the elastic member 4 described in the third embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, this can be realized without adding a complicated and large structure or a heavy member.

In the fourth embodiment, the lower end of the elastic member 4 has a sliding structure, but both ends of the elastic member 4 may have a sliding structure. Then, in addition to the degree of freedom due to elastic deformation of the elastic member 4, the apparent length of the elastic member 4 changes to provide a joint with many degrees of freedom.
In FIG. 10, the cross-sectional shape of the sliding guide 12 and the end portion of the elastic member 4 is rectangular. However, if this is a circular cross-sectional shape, rotational sliding is possible, and the degree of freedom is further increased. At the time of walking, the toes move in a complicated manner. Therefore, if the movable connecting mechanism including the elastic member 4 can follow such a movement, a smoother walking is possible.

Although the elastic member 4 has been described in the third and fourth embodiments, the small and thin spring can function as a movable connecting mechanism or a force generating mechanism, and is disposed between the shin accessory 2 and the upper accessory 3. It became clear that we could do it.
As a result, it has been clarified that the movable short leg brace of the present invention can rotate the hip joint, lift the foot when the foot is lifted, keep the knee joint angle at the reference angle, and walk smoothly.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of belt A5 or belt B6 developed on the same plane as the sole.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a state in which the belt A5 or the belt B6 on which the foot placement plate is disposed is attached to the foot.
As Example 5, the example which arrange | positions a footrest board in the intermediate part of belt A5 or belt B6 was shown in FIG.11 and FIG.12. FIG. 11 shows an example in which a foot placing plate is disposed in the middle part of a belt A5 for wrapping around a foot and fixing the accessory 1 or a belt B6 for fixing the upper accessory 3 on the same plane as the back surface of the foot. Expanded and shown. FIG. 11A shows a case where there is no foot placement plate for comparison, and FIG. 11B shows a case where a foot placement plate 7 on which a foot is placed is arranged at an intermediate portion of the belt A5 or the belt B6. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the foot is fixed by the belt A5 or the belt B6 on which the foot placement plate 7 is arranged.

The foot placement plate 7 is a strong thin plate that does not bend even when a foot is placed on the foot and the weight is applied or the belt is pulled. The footrest plate 7 can be made of a plastic or metal thin plate.

As shown in FIG. 11 (b), the middle part of A5 or belt B6 is removed, and both ends of belt A5 or belt B6 are connected to both sides of the footrest plate 7.

The patient puts his / her foot on the foot placing plate 7 and wraps the belt A5 or the belt B6 around the foot to fix the accessory 1 or the instep 3 to the foot.
The presence of the footrest plate 7 also lifts the fingertips of patients whose toes are lowered, thereby reducing walking problems. Further, when there is no foot placing plate 7, the belt A5 or the belt B6 binds and tightens the toes, but this can be prevented. The footrest plate 7 also serves to protect the toes from hitting somewhere.

The foot placement plate 7 may be adapted not only to the toe portion but also to the shape of the entire sole. Depending on the patient, it is necessary to adjust the thickness of the footrest plate 7 in order to cope with a clubfoot or the like, but this is possible if it conforms to the shape of the entire sole.

Although the above-described five embodiments of the ankle foot orthosis have been described as representative examples, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and substitutions can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the shape, material and structure of the accessory, tibial accessory and upper accessory, the shape and material of the elastic member, the tibial accessory, the upper additive and the elastic member are manufactured integrally, to the elastic member accessory The connection method, the shape of the sliding guide, the structure of the sliding portion of the elastic member, the position of each belt, the material of each belt, the shape of the footrest plate, etc. can be changed and replaced.
Accordingly, the invention should not be construed as limited by the embodiments described above, but only by the claims.

The present invention relates to a short leg orthosis, which is used by a patient who cannot freely move an ankle joint with his / her own intention as an assisting device during walking.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Accessory 2 Tibial appendage 3 Upper accessory 4 Elastic member 4a, 4b End part 5 of elastic member 4 Belt A
6 Belt B
7 Foot mounting plate 8 Movable connecting mechanism 9 Force generating mechanism 10a, 10b Belt C
11a, 11b Belt D
12 Sliding guide P Tip position Q of the tibial appendage Q, Q 'Rear end position ∠H, ∠ H' Angle between the shin appendix and the upper appendix x Dimensions of the bellows part of the elastic member y Thickness dimension

Claims (5)

With attachments fixed along the shin and instep,
By fixing the angle of the heel joint with the accessory,
A short leg brace characterized by smooth walking. A shin accessory attached to the shin,
With an armor that is fixed to the instep,
The shin accessory and the upper accessory are connected so as to be movable,
Lift the upper accessory to a position determined relative to the tibial accessory,
A short leg brace characterized by smooth walking. A shin accessory attached to the shin,
An armor body fixed to the instep,
An elastic member for connecting the shin accessory and the upper accessory,
The elastic member follows the change in position between the shin accessory and the upper accessory by elastic deformation,
The elastic member lifts the armor with a restoring force generated when elastically deformed,
A short leg brace characterized by smooth walking. A shin accessory attached to the shin,
An armor fixed to the instep,
An elastic member for connecting the shin accessory and the upper accessory,
The elastic member follows the change in angle between the tibial appendage and the upper appendage by elastically deforming when the hip joint rotates during walking,
At least one of the shin accessory or the upper accessory is provided with a sliding guide for sliding an end of the elastic member,
When the hip joint rotates during walking, the end of the elastic member slides along the sliding guide to change the distance between the tibial accessory and the upper accessory. Follow
The elastic member lifts the upper appendage with a restoring force generated when elastically deformed, and holds the hip joint at a reference angle when the foot is raised,
A short leg brace characterized by smooth walking. The leg support device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, further comprising a foot placement plate disposed in an intermediate portion of a belt that fixes the upper accessory to a foot.

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